New Comp. Intel or AMD, and ram questions

[Booyamos]

Well my old comp is starting to get a little slow, and I have a new job so I figure the time may be right to build another one. I am a builder not a buyer, like to have whatever I want in it.

But I had been thinking about getting an Intel 2.4ghz (less than $200), but now I am not so sure if I should go for Intel or AMD. An Athlon XP 2400 is also less than $200 so not too much of a difference in price. Just wondering what eveveryone thought about Intel vs. AMD

and then there is the ram question. I hadn't been paying much attention but now it seems there are two different types. I was thinking of getting pc2700(333) ram, but then I see other things with intel which I believe are rambus... but I didn't think that was as good.

Just trying to figure out the final parts before I go and start buyin stuff, any advice would help. Thanks.

Intel or Amd? MB: Probably Giga-byte something, Ram: was thinking Corsair 512mb PC2700, Geforce 4 Ti4200, 80 gig hd, etc.

[Ladogaboy]

Right now, I think it is more of a toss up than ever. As you said, the speeds and prices are now very comparable. AMD will have a better variety of MoBos to choose from, and from what I've heard from most users, AMD systems still FEEL faster. In benchmarks, they seem neck and neck. As far as OCing, Intel now has AMD beat, but I get the impression that you aren't big on OCing. Also, I think (and this is probably going to be the kicker for me, too), because P4s run cooler, I think you can get away with a quieter system if you go Intel.

Honestly, imo, there has never been a harder time to make a choice. :shrug:

[VileOFFender]

I guess the other question to ask is waht is this new system going to be used for? If your application will benefit from a dual CPU setup, then AMD is totally the way to go.

[G_Sup]

Chosenfool, have to agree with you on the Corsair XMS 3200. Best damn RAM I've ever owned. Got it up to over 430mhz DDR!:D BTW, I've owned both Intel and AMD systems and I'm sticking to Intel for the time being...less problems, less heat.

[Cantacuzene]

My $.02. Buy Intel if you are buying top end. Since you want a mid range cpu, buy AMD and save money. If you buy Intel, get an Intel mobo for sure. pc1066 ram is the way to go.

Like others have said, its so even now that its hard to decide. Likely, it will come down to whoever has the best deals the day you break out the plastic.

[GilbertsGrape]

Originally posted by DarkFury
Personally... I just feel that the compatability of going Intel (and their current speed advantage with the new 533 FSB Pentium IVs is worth the additional cash over buying AMD.

I'm actually in the same boat as Kacarp and the proposed updates I am considering are:

Pentium IV 2.5 GHz CPU - $240
512MB of Corsair PC3200 (DDR 400 - 2 ns) - $180
Asus P4PE motherboard with SATA, Firewire, and Gigabit LAN - $160
MSI GeForce 4600 VTD (w/ VIVO) - $245

Total for all these components (today): $825

With that, I should be straight for at least 2 years (that is... if games don't go to the NEXT level and/or if DirectX 9 or higher doesn't become a true requirement to play :D )


Question: why would you not just buy a dell for that price?

[bachviet]

Originally posted by GilbertsGrape



Question: why would you not just buy a dell for that price?
Because we can't tweak the Dell. Dell computer usually comes with 250W or 300W motherboard, which is not enough.

[skynet]

I will settle the CPU wars...


BUY MIPS! The Best CPU EVER. More MIPS (from different producers) processors are sold than Intel and AMD put together.

[Booyamos]

Seems like Darkfury is in the same boat as me. But thanks for the good advice choosenfool (and the rest). I did the AMD thing last time around and it went fine, well a few infinite loop problems with XP, but nothing big.

I will probably wait 2 more weeks or so until after midterms, and so I have a 2 more paychecks :D

Right now I am just looking out for deals on the parts I want. P4 ~2.4ish, I was gonna go for the corsair and might as well get 3200 now.

I keep seeing the deals for the WD hard drives, but I am not a rebate fan so just looking for something with coupons :)

I think I have most of it figured out, just a few specifics and finding a new case...

[Ladogaboy]

Yeah, I was thinking of Dell as an option at one time, but then I realized that if I got one of those "Dell Deals", I'd still want to replace the case, motherboard, powersupply, and videocard almost immediately. It no longer seemed worth it.

[bachviet]

Originally posted by bachviet

Because we can't tweak the Dell. Dell computer usually comes with 250W or 300W motherboard, which is not enough.
I mean 250W or 300W PSU. New components require lots of power! :D

[DREDD]

I'd wait and see how Intel's new Granite Bay Motherboards benchmark. Maybe those will make the Intel side look more appealing. DDR systems faster than RAMBUS for once and the DDR modules are a bit cheaper.